Home Instead Gerontologist and aging advocate, Dr. Lakelyn Eichenberger, spoke to Forbes Health about finding the best GPS tracking device for an aging adult.
A GPS tracker is a device that provides real-time location tracking via satellite data. In the context of an older adult with a form of cognitive impairment, a GPS tracker can give caregivers, family members or emergency responders quick access to the user’s live location.
“GPS trackers are useful tools for individuals with cognitive impairment and forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and who are prone to wandering,” says Eichenberger.
For individuals in the early stages of dementia and who generally keep their smartphone handy, caregivers can use the “Find my phone” or “Share my location” features for a more cost-friendly alternative to GPS trackers.
